Feb 16, 2004 02:34
Chronic insomnia is more complex and often results from a combination of factors, including underlying physical or mental disorders. One of the most common causes of chronic insomnia is depression. Other underlying causes include arthritis, kidney disease, heart failure, asthma, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and hyperthyroidism. However, chronic insomnia may also be due to behavioral factors, including the misuse of caffeine, alcohol, or other substances; disrupted sleep/wake cycles as may occur with shift work or other nighttime activity schedules; and chronic stress.
In addition, the following behaviors have been shown to perpetuate insomnia in some people:
poor sleep hygiene in general
expecting to have difficulty sleeping and worrying about it
ingesting excessive amounts of caffeine
drinking alcohol before bedtime
smoking cigarettes before bedtime
excessive napping in the afternoon or evening
irregular or continually disrupted sleep/wake schedules
Difficulty sleeping at night is only one of the symptoms. Daytime symptoms include:
Sleepiness
Anxiety
Impaired concentration
Impaired memory
Irritability
sounds kinda like some one i know, minus the drug use